In Search of Free Voice

Joydip Ghosal

The Free Voice, on Democracy, Culture and Nation’ by Ravish Kumar (Publisher–Speaking Tiger) is not only an intrepid book but it is also a clarion call to everyone who wants to remain passive and neutral in this dark time. It chronicles the changing trajectory of the state since 2014. He was a Senior Executive Editor with NDTV. He resigned in 2022 on ethical grounds.

Chitra Ahan then said that it was a necessary read for everyone who felt despair at the state of affairs prevailing in the country today. Aishwarya Bhuta aptly described the book as mirror and siren. Without resorting to least exaggeration it reflected the complex social realities of a nuanced society. On the other hand it warned against the deification of a particular leader. This book was first published in 2018 when the foundation of new edifice of falsehood and lies was being laid in the world’s largest democracy.

In the preface of 2024 edition Ravish Kumar wrote that a smart city of politics had risen where the rule of silent majority had been established. Consent gave birth to that silence. That silence was not born out of fear. The wilful silence of majority acted as a wall. It created hindrance before those who wanted accountability and asked questions which were not pleasing to ears. According to Ravish Kumar society had stopped listening to them. It listened only to the powers–that–be.

The smart city of politics had been metamorphosed into smart city of lies. The visual order of democracy had been changed. It had become difficult to separate religion and politics. An all-pervading fear of psychological and physical violence had been executed to stem the culture of social harmony and healthy debate. Sandeep Sinha said that a journalist was not supposed to be a fence- sitter. He would have to take side. Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar once wrote that evil doer and indifferent people were equal sinners. Ravish Kumar took side defying all odds.

Unequivocally Ravish Kumar wrote that media shed the burdensome responsibility of being the fourth pillar of democracy. The vast profession of journalism was crushed before the eyes. “It has been celebrating the passing of democracy even before the formal announcement of assassination.” In truth communalism was being legitimised. It was masqueraded as patriotism. Apart from speaking about economic and social inequality one must identify the inequality of knowledge. It was so deep-rooted that a good debate wasn’t going to resolve it. Misleading information designed to incite youths to prejudice and violence reached their smart phones as personal messages.

One needed knowledge in order to become citizens in the truest sense and ask uncomfortable questions to powers–that– be. When every effort to ask the questions was thwarted by canards or lies the regular practice of speaking out was gradually lost.

p             To delve deeper into the nuances of the contemporary politics Ravish Kumar cited the instance of ‘Night of Broken Glass’, between 9 and 10 November in Germany. That was the night when campaign to pin the Jews was put on full swing. In the years leading to 1938 concerted attempt to drive Jewish traders and businessmen out of Germany was set up. Ravish Kumar showed how men were ordered to add ‘Israel’ to their names. Women were also ordered to add ‘Sarah’ so that they could be effortlessly recognised. The professors also played pivotal roles in spreading hatred. Jews were forbidden from entering Public Park. On the night of 7 November 1938 Ernst vomRath was assassinated in Paris. He acted as third legation secretary of Germany. The assassin was Herschel Grynszpan. He was a Jew of Polish origin. For Hitler’s murderous propaganda manager Joseph Goebbels it was a boon sent from heaven. The fire had long been smouldering. He needed wind to fan that. He got it within his reach.

Back to India on 9 June 201, Basit Malik, a reporter of Caravan magazine was attacked by a mob. He was on assignment at Sonia Vihar in Delhi. His name indicated his Muslim identity. In February 2016 Alok Singh and Kaunain Sheriff , two journalists of Indian Express were attacked by lawyers in Patiala House Court when they were covering the sedition case against Kanhaiya Kumar. Asad Ashraf, Anupam Pandey, Vinay Pandey, the three journalists were arrested in Hanumangarh while investigating the arms training camps allegedly run by Bajrang Dal. When a twenty – four- year – old woman ‘Riverbend‘ started chronicling and documenting the Iraq war and its devastation it was much appreciated. It was later published as a book ‘Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq.’ Ravish Kumar without any hesitation stated that if a Kashmiri girl decided to write a blog on the lines of ‘Baghdad Burning’ India’s mainstream media would brand her as anti-national.

According to him the national project for instilling fear had reached completion in the country. Indians were not only fighting against throttling of democratic voices. In the near future they would not be able to step out in their own neighbourhood.

With much apprehension he wrote that the land around common people was rapidly turning into an island. But this was a great moment for those who had been declared as defeated and crushed. This was their moment that refused to bow down. They held their head high and spoke out in public and private spaces. They kept speaking hoping someone would listen to them.

In order to understand rising fascism this book is a must read. This book revolves around the truth that journalism is never complete without citizen and citizenship. If the information is not factual or true trust between citizens will diminish. And Ravish Kumar’s concluding remark is more appealing : “…in order to be a citizen journalist today you have to struggle with the state and the citizen who is behaving as per state’s desires.”

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 23, Dec 1 - 7, 2024